10 things you should be negotiating every time you land a job offer, according to ex-Microsoft HR VP

• Job seekers should negotiate offers as companies expect it and they are invested in the candidate.
• Negotiating base pay is tough but other components like signing bonus, guaranteed bonus, and remote work can be negotiated.
• Negotiations should make you feel a little uncomfortable, indicating you've pushed enough and can meet in the middle.

As a 40-plus-year veteran of the corporate world and the former VP of HR at Microsoft, I've seen a lot of people successfully negotiate their job offers.

Yet, many people are reluctant to negotiate. They feel like the offer is a "take it or leave it" proposition. They should think again. Even in a tight market, some negotiation is common and doesn't have to be adversarial.